Councillors cleared of wrongdoing in £5,000 probe

Both have now been cleared of any wrongdoing and Cllr King said the move has left him angry.
Cllr King, who owns King's Auctions, said: "They said I had a prejudicial interest in the town because I lived in the town and had a business in the town. I do have a business in the town but it's in the British Legion hall, a rented hall so I was not in any shape or form going against the Standards Board's rules.
"We were fighting for the people of our town who elected us and they were trying to stop us. They were trying to stop us helping to fight the parking in the Old Town. I think a good 90 per cent of the town opposed it.
"It was totally unfounded and cost the ratepayer a lot of money, which I am not very happy about. It has brought our reputations into disrepute. We have given permission for it to be released to the public so we are completely free."
Buckinghamshire County Council hopes to introduce pay-and-display meters and parking permits for residents and businesses in historic Amersham Old Town - despite fierce opposition from those affected.
Eamonn Flynn, landlord of the Saracens Head in Whielden Street, said: "To me the whole thing seems such a waste of taxpayers money. Being a publican I get people coming in all the time and if anyone was for the parking, I would stand up for their views. Everyone in the town, businesses and residents I spoke to, were 100 per cent against any parking regulations."
Chiltern District Council spokeswoman Rachel Prance said both councillors had personal interests in the parking proposals but not prejudicial interests as the town council was aware of the situation which satisfied the Member Code of Conduct.
She said: "The investigation was undertaken by an external investigator. The costs to undertake both were just under £5,500 and officer and member time was also involved. The new system of referring complaints for local determination means each council has to fund all costs associated with the ethical framework. This represents an additional burden."